Appendix 7.1 Ecological Desk Study · Appendix 7.1 Ecological Desk Study Introduction Overview...

RIGGHILL WIND FARM i APPENDIX 7.1

Appendix 7.1 Ecological Desk Study

RIGGHILL WIND FARM ii APPENDIX 7.1

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RIGGHILL WIND FARM 1 APPENDIX 7.1

Appendix 7.1 Ecological Desk Study

Introduction

Overview

ITPEnergised was appointed by Burcote Wind Ltd to undertake an ecological desk study for area of land south-

east of Skelmorlie (hereafter referred to as ‘the Site’). The Site has central Ordnance Survey Grid Reference NS

21329 66130.

This report describes the methods used to gather and record ecological baseline information for the Site and

summarises the findings of the desk study.

Site Description

The Site is situated in North Ayrshire, Scotland and is located approximately 3.8km north-east of the town of

Largs and 1km south-east of the village of Skelmorlie. The Site covers approximately 328ha of predominately

grassland. Several small streams and tributaries cross the Site, feeding into Skelmorlie Water, within Skelmorlie

Glen, which bisects the Site centrally, running east to west. Due to the extensive presence of watercourses and

flushes across the Site, the area supports a variety of bog and wetland habitats. The fields surrounding Skelmorlie

Glen are predominately utilised for grazing livestock.

Development Proposal

The ecological desk study was undertaken to inform the future development of a wind farm within the Site (’the

Proposed Development’).

Legislation

Full consideration has been given to all relevant nature conservation legislation when carrying out this

assessment. This includes the following:

The Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Flora and Fauna (the Habitats Directive) 1992

(92/43/3EEC);

Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the

conservation of wild birds (2009/147/EC);

The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended);

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended);

The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (as amended); and

The Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (as amended).

Biodiversity Priorities

Scottish Biodiversity List

Scottish Ministers created the Scottish Biodiversity List (SBL) (Scottish Government, 2013) in 2005 to satisfy the

requirements under Section 2(4) of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 and assist public bodies in

carrying out conservation of biodiversity, as well as to provide the general public with information regarding

conservation within Scotland. The SBL comprises species and habitats listed using both scientific and social

criteria. Only scientific criteria are considered relevant to this report. They include the following:

All UK Priority Species present in Scotland;


Species which Scotland has an international obligation to safeguard;

All species defined as nationally rare at a UK level that are present in Scotland;

Species with populations present (resident, wintering or breeding) in 5 or fewer 10km squares or sites in

Scotland;

All species that are endemic to Scotland;

Any sub-species or race that is widely recognised and accepted by the scientific (or other relevant) community

and that is endemic to Scotland, if it also meets one of the other criteria; and

Natural and semi-natural habitats that are known to be particularly important for supporting assemblages of

plant or animal groups that are data deficient, such as fungi, bryophytes, lichens, algae and invertebrates.

Local Biodiversity Action Plan

The draft North Ayrshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) covers the time period 2019-2031 and will work

towards the following vision for North Ayrshire’s biodiversity by 2030 (North Ayrshire Council, 2019):

Ecosystem restoration;

Investment in natural capital;

Quality greenspace for health and education benefits;

Conserving wildlife;

Sustainable management of land and freshwater; and

Sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems.

The North Ayrshire LBAP has three central aims:

‘Protect and restore biodiversity on land and seas, and to support healthier ecosystems;

Connect people with the natural world, or their health and well-being and to involve them

more in decisions about their environment; and

Maximise the benefits for North Ayrshire of a diverse natural environment and the services it

provides, contributing to sustainable economic growth.’

An assessment of the potential and residual ecological effects of the Proposed Development (before and

following the implementation of mitigation) is presented below in Tables 1 and 2. The assessment of effects is

considered for construction, operation and decommissioning of the Proposed Development.

Methods

The ecological desk study was carried out using a range of publicly available information sources and data

provided by South West Scotland Environmental Information Centre (SWSEIC) (SWSEIC, 2019) and Glasgow

Museums Resource Centre (Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 2019) to provide an understanding of the

ecological context of the Survey Area.

In terms of nature conservation designations, the desk study identified international and national statutory

designations, such as Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Sites of Special

Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and National Nature Reserves (NNRs) within 10km of the Site boundary. Only ecological

(biological) features are considered relevant to the present study. Any Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) were

identified within a 5km distance of the Site boundary and non-statutory designations, such as Local Wildlife Sites

(LWS), Sites of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINCs) or woodland areas included on the Ancient Woodland

Inventory (AWI), were identified within a 2km distance of the Site boundary.


Existing records for protected or otherwise notable species (e.g. LBAP priority species) were identified with a

2km distance of the Site boundary. The survey buffer was extended to 10km for bats. Only records from the last

10 years were considered relevant to the study.

Data sources included the following organisations and online databases:

South West Scotland Environmental Information Centre (SWSEIC, 2019);

Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 2019)

NBN Atlas (NBN Atlas, 2019);

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) SiteLink (SNH, 2019); and

SNH Ancient Woodland Inventory (SNH, 2018).

Results

Nature Conservation Designations

One statutory designation of international importance and five statutory designations of national importance

are located within 10km of the Site boundary. These are summarised in Table 1 (listed in terms of distance from

the Site) and shown on Figure 1.

Table 1 – Statutory Nature Conservation Designations within 5km of the Proposed Development

Site Designation Distance to Site Description

Skelmorlie Glen SSSI Within Site The site is designated for the following:

Upland mixed ash woodland.

Renfrewshire Heights

SPA Borders Site NE

The Site is designated for the following species referred to in Article 4 of Directive 2009/147/EC and listed in Annex II of Directive 92/43/EEC:

Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) - during the breeding season the area regularly supports 2% of the population in Great Britain (seven year mean for 1998 to 2004 ).

SSSI The site is designated for the following:

Aggregations of breeding bird hen harrier.

Shielhill Glen SSSI 5km NE The site is designated for the following:

Lowland mixed broadleaved woodland; and Fen meadow.

Cumbraes

Marine Consultation Area (MCA)

5.36km S The channel between the Great and Little Cumbrae Islands, Bute and the mainland is over 50m deep. The tidal regime favours the development of rich algal and faunal communities on the shores. The red seaweeds Chondrus crispus and Mastocarpus stellatus are better developed here than at any other location in Britain. At Kames Bay populations of the thin tellin Angulus tenuis have been monitored for over 60 years and constitute one of the longest series of observations on an intertidal species in the United Kingdom.


Site Designation Distance to Site Description

Ballochmartin Bay SSSI 7.28km S The site is designated for the following:

Coastland.

There are three non-statutory Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCS), two proposed LNCS and one RSPB

Important Bird Area (IBA) inside the Site application boundary or within 2km of the Site boundary. A Regional

Park designation also intersects the Site boundary. These designations are detailed in Table 2 (listed in terms of

distance from the site boundary) and shown on Figure 1.

Table 2 – Non -statutory Nature Conservation Designations within 2km of the Proposed Development

Site Designation Distance to Site

Description

Skelmorlie Glen and Fardens Glen

LNCS Within Site A good example of semi-natural woodland with

botanically-rich mixed deciduous gorge woodland.

Renfrewshire Heights RSPB IBA Within Site Breeding population of hen harriers.

Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

Regional Park

Within Site Scotland’s Largest Regional Park providing places to walk, run, cycle, outdoor activities and a café.

Noddsdale Water (Brisbane Glen) & Kilburn Glen

Provisional LNCS

0.65km East Ancient woodland; Provisional SWT wildlife site

Kelly Glen and Reservoir LNCS 0.9km North A broad and steep valley supporting a rich and diverse semi-natural woodland cover.

Knock Castle and Routenburn

Provisional LNCS

1.23km South Ancient woodland; Provisional SWT wildlife site

Oakfield (Kellybank) LNCS 1.25km North-west

A large and diverse area of semi-natural habitats with woodland extensions from the glen supporting a good range of canopy and ground flora elements.

Additionally, 27 areas of Ancient Woodland Inventory-listed woodland were identified within the 2km desk study

search area. These designations are detailed in Table 3 (again listed in terms of distance from the site boundary)

and shown on Figure 1.

Table 3 – Ancient Woodland within 2km of the Proposed Development

Woodland Ancient Woodland Category Distance to Site Size (ha)

Unnamed Long-Established (of plantation origin) (2b) Within Site 3.26

Skelmorlie Glen Ancient (of semi-natural origin) (2a) Within Site 5.53



Woodland Ancient Woodland Category Distance to Site Size (ha)




Fardens Glen Long-Established (of plantation origin) (2b) Borders Western Site Boundary

0.84

Skelmorlie Glen Ancient (of semi-natural origin) (1a) 0.38km W 11.06

Unnamed Ancient (of semi-natural origin) (1a) 0.39km W 5.68

Unnamed Long-Established (of plantation origin) (2b) 0.41km SW 1

Unnamed Long-Established (of plantation origin) (2b) 0.51km W 4.59

Unnamed Ancient (of semi-natural origin) (1a) 0.52km S 23.95

Templeston Glen Ancient (of semi-natural origin) (2a) 0.73km S 5.26

Unnamed Long-Established (of plantation origin) (2b) 0.76km S 2.36

Unnamed Long-Established (of plantation origin) (2b) 0.77km S 2.43

Unnamed Long-Established (of plantation origin) (2b) 0.90W 5.07

Kelly Glen Ancient (of semi-natural origin) (2a) 0.94km N 2.32

Unnamed Ancient (of semi-natural origin) (2a) 1.02km N 1.37



Unnamed Ancient (of semi-natural origin) (1a) 1.43km NW 1.45


Unnamed Long-Established (of plantation origin) (2b) 1.62km N 2.25


Unnamed Long-Established (of plantation origin) (2b) 1.69km N 2.76

Unnamed Ancient (of semi-natural origin) (1a) 1.85km NW 1.9

Unnamed Long-Established (of plantation origin) (2b) 1.88km SW 26.08


Invasive Species

Records of the following invasive species were recorded in the desk study:

Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica); and

Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum).

Japanese knotweed is classed as a controlled plant in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

Terrestrial Animals

Data obtained from the SWSEIC and Glasgow Museum (SWSEIC, 2019 and Glasgow Museums Resource Centre

2019) showed records of 15 protected or otherwise notable species within 2km of the Site boundary and bats

within 10km of the Site boundary; see Table 4.

Table 4: Protected or Otherwise Notable Species

Common name Scientific name Legislation Records

Otter Lutra lutra

Conservation (Natural

Habitats, &c.) Regulations

1994 (as amended)

Four records of otter were identified

within 2km of the Site boundary, the

mosts recent being recorded in 2018.

Brown long-eared

bat Plecotus auritus



1994 (as amended)

Fifteen records of brown long-eared

bat were identified within 10km of the

Site boundary, the mosts recent being

recorded in 2016.

Lesser Noctule Nyctalus leisleri Conservation (Natural


1994 (as amended)

Six records of Lesser Noctule were

identified within 10km of the Site

boundary, the mosts recent being

recorded in 2016.

Natterer's bat Myotis nattereri Conservation (Natural


1994 (as amended)

Nine records of Natterer's bat were

identified within 10km of the Site


recorded in 2016.

Mytotis bats Myotis sp. Conservation (Natural


1994 (as amended)

Four records of myotis bats have been

recorded within 10km of the Site


recorded in 2016.

Pipistrelle bat

species

Pipistrellus sp. Conservation (Natural


1994 (as amended)

There are 16 records of pipistrelle bats



Common

pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus



1994 (as amended)

There are 65 records of common

pipistrelle within 10km of the Site


recorded in 2019.

Soprano

pipistrelle

Pipistrellus

pygmaeus



1994 (as amended)

There are 41 records of soprano

pipistrelle within 10km of the Site


recorded in 2016.


Common name Scientific name Legislation Records

Common seal Phoca vitulina Marine (Scotland) Act 2010

The Protection of Seals

(Designation of Haul-Out

Sites) (Scotland) Order

2014

A sole record from 2018 was identified

within 2km of the Site boundary.

Grey seal Halichoerus

grypus

Marine (Scotland) Act 2010

The Protection of Seals

(Designation of Haul-Out

Sites) (Scotland) Order

2014



Brown hare Lepus

europaeus

Wildlife and Countryside

Act 1981 (as amended)



Common frog Rana

temporaria



Four records of frog were identified



Common toad Bufo bufo Wildlife and Countryside


Three records of toad were identified



Palmate newt Lissotriton

helveticus





Large heath Coenonympha

tullia

SBL A sole record from 2019 was identified



References

Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (2019). Data Request December 2019.

NBN Atlas (2019). Explore Your Area. Available online at: https://nbnatlas.org/ (accessed December 2019)

North Ayrshire Council (2019). North Ayrshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan 2019-2031. Available online at:

https://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/Documents/CorporateServices/Finance/draft-lbap.pdf (accessed

December 2019)

SNH (2018). A guide to understanding the Scottish Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI). Available online at:

https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2018-

11/A%20guide%20to%20understanding%20the%20Scottish%20Ancient%20Woodland%20Inventory%20%28A

WI%29.pdf (accessed December 2019)

SNH SiteLink (2019). SiteLink Map Search. Available online at: https://sitelink.nature.scot/map (accessed

December 2019)

SWSEIC (2019). Data Request December 2019.


Figures

Figure 1: Nature Conservation Designations

Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2019

Projec

t Num

ber: E

DI_17

07

Rigghill Wind FarmEIA Report

Figure TA7.1.1Ecological Designated Sites within 5km

¯KEY

Scale 1:80,000 @ A3

0 2 4km

04/02/2020Date: Drawn by: Checked by: Version:AG MB V1

Renfrewshire Heights SPA SSSI RSPB IBAClyde Muirshiel Regional Park

Noddsdale Water (Brisbane Glen) & Kilburn Glen Provisional LNCS

Knock Castle and RoutenburnProvisional LNCS

Ballochmartin Bay SSSICumbraes MCA

Kelly Glen and Reservoir LNCSOakfield LNCS

Skelmorlie Glen SSSISkelmorlie Glen and Fardens Glen LNCS

Shielhill Glen SSSI

Buffer (2km)Buffer (10km)Special Protection Area (SPA)Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Marine Consultation Area (MCA)

Local Nature Conservation SiteProvisional Local Nature Conservation Site

Regional Park

RSPB Important Bird Area (IBA)Ancient Woodland

Site Boundary


Appendices

Appendix A: Protected or otherwise notable birds within 2km of the Site boundary

Vernacular Name Scientific name EU Birds Directive: Annex 1

Schedule 1 Wildlife & Countryside Act

1981

SBL Birds of Conservation

Concern (BoCC)

Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus

X Red

Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea X

X Amber

Barn Owl Tyto alba

X X Green

Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis X

X Amber

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica X

X Amber

Black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

X Amber

Black-throated Diver

Gavia arctica X X X Amber

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla

X X

Brent Goose Branta bernicla

Amber

Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula

X Amber

Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula

X Amber

Common Gull Larus canus

Amber

Common sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Amber

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra

X X Red

Common Tern Sterna hirundo X

X Amber

Corncrake Crex crex X X X Red

Crossbill Loxia curvirostra

X

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus

X Red

Curlew Numenius arquata

X Red

Dipper Cinclus cinclus

Amber

Dunlin (schinzii race)

Calidris alpina schinzii X

Amber

Dunnock Prunella modularis

X Amber

Eider Somateria mollissima

Amber




1981


Concern (BoCC)

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris

X

Red

Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla

X

Green

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis

Amber

Gannet Morus bassanus

Amber

Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos X X X Green

Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria X

X Green

Goldeneye Bucephala clangula

Amber

Goshawk Accipiter gentilis

X

Grasshopper warbler

Locustella naevia

X Red

Great black-backed Gull

Larus marinus

Amber

Great Northern Diver

Gavia immer X X X Amber

Great Skua Stercorarius skua

Amber

Greenshank Tringa nebularia

X

Amber

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

Red

Greylag Goose Anser anser

Amber

Guillemot Uria aalge

Amber

Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus X X X Red

Herring Gull Larus argentatus

X Red

Hooded Crow Corvus cornix

X

House Martin Delichon urbicum

Amber

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

X Red

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

X Amber

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis X X X Amber

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla

Red

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

X Red




1981


Concern (BoCC)

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus fuscus

Amber

Lesser Redpoll Acanthis cabaret

X Red

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos minor

Red

Linnet Linaria cannabina

X Red

Little Egret Egretta garzetta X

Green

Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus

X

Green

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

X

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Amber

Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus

X Amber

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis

Amber

Mediterranean Gull

Larus melanocephalus X X

Amber

Merlin Falco columbarius X X X Red

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus

Red

Mute swan Cygnus olor

Amber

Osprey Pandion haliaetus X X X Amber

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Amber

Peregrine Falco peregrinus X X X

Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus

Amber

Pintail Anas acuta

Amber

Pochard Aythya ferina

X Red

Puffin Fratercula arctica

Red

Razorbill Alca torda

Amber

Red Kite Milvus milvus X X X Green

Redshank Tringa totanus

Amber

Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Amber




1981


Concern (BoCC)

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata X X X Green

Redwing Turdus iliacus

X X Red

Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

X Amber

Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus

X Red

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

Red

Ruff Calidris pugnax X X X Red

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis X

X Amber

Scaup Aythya marila

X X Red

Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Red

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Amber

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus X

X Amber

Siskin Spinus spinus

X

Skylark Alauda arvensis

X Red

Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Amber

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis

X X Amber

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

X Red

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata

X Red

Starling Sturnus vulgaris

X Red

Stock Dove Columba oenas

Amber

Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus X

X Amber

Swift Apus apus

X Amber

Tawny Owl Strix aluco

Amber

Teal Anas crecca

Amber

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis

X Red

Tree sparrow Passer montanus

X Red

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

Amber

Twite Linaria flavirostris

X Red




1981


Concern (BoCC)

Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca

X

Red

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

X

Red

Whooper swan Cygnus cygnus X X X Amber

Wigeon Anas penelope

Amber

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus

Amber

Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix

X Red

Woodcock Scolopax rusticola

X Red

Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella

X Red

Appendix 7.1 Ecological Desk Study · Appendix 7.1 Ecological Desk Study Introduction Overview...

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